Tag: economic uncertainty

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa continue to face a business landscape that is simultaneously full of challenges and brimming with opportunities. A still-struggling economy, rising costs, high unemployment figures and an uncertain political future have created a business backdrop against which only the most resilient and innovative businesses will thrive.

For many business leaders, the heat is on. They face inflation, supply chain disruption, labour shortages, and pricing pressures. Protecting margins while meeting customer needs and navigating economic uncertainty is crucial. However, many lack transparency and granularity in actual cost structures.

The global economic backdrop continues to improve gradually but great amounts of uncertainty remain. While most of the major central banks are now likely at the peak of their rate hiking cycles, inflation remains sticky and sustained high levels of interest rates are having a dampening impact on economic growth.

An issue which is of concern to insolvency practitioners across the globe and in South Africa, is the ever increasing level of corporate distress and uncertainty, and which impacts the role of insolvency practitioners (liquidators and business rescue practitioners) and the manner in which they can assist in the restructuring of companies that might be on the brink of insolvency.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the beating heart of Africa’s economies. According to the World Economic Forum, as engines of growth, SMEs are responsible for around 80% of the continent’s employment, ultimately helping to reduce poverty and income inequality, enabling the establishment of a new middle class and driving demand for new goods and services.

The cabinet approved a new state-owned enterprise (SOE) plan, which will lays the basis for private equity investment in state companies and listings on the stock exchange. It has already stirred significant debate and discussion – and rightly so, because full or partial privatisation by countries around the world has been met with mixed success.

While South Africa has fended off the threat of recession after recording a slight growth in the first quarter of 2023, the global tech industry is still being cautious as it prepares to weather a storm. Tech companies are looking at optimising their costs across the board, with one such area topping the list of CIOs’ being controlling cloud expenditure.

South African businesses need to be efficient, nimble and resilient to thrive in a landscape characterised by economic uncertainty, rising costs, fierce competition and low growth. Automating business processes is one of the most effective tactics they can use to increase productivity, become more competitive and reduce costs.

Africa’s CEOs are looking at new ways to generate revenue and are investing in new skills. Africa’s CEOs tell us how they are navigating today’s workplace challenges and building a more resilient and adaptable workforce. The African continent is a hub of economic activity with a growing business sector that is increasingly becoming globally competitive.

Building a resilient mindset is key to survival. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to the world of business, and for entrepreneurs, the ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks has never been more important.